The term group conscience comes from the Second Tradition, which currently states:
“For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority, a loving God whose expression may come through in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.”
Note: The Second Tradition is one of the places this motion proposes to change “God” to “Higher Power”
An informed group conscience is possible when a group of members discuss all known information about a subject while upholding the MA Traditions and Principles. For a group conscience to be fully informed, group members should review all the pertinent information with a willing and open mind to listen to minority opinions, or why any members disagree with the motion. Each member has an opportunity to share their individual viewpoints on the matter. The trusted servant(s) will then hold a vote to determine the majority opinion (also known as the group conscience) on the subject.
A meeting’s voice or group conscience is heard when a well-informed meeting or group arrives at a decision after this type of a discussion was had in which all viewpoints have been heard, everyone who wanted to felt free to share their opinions, and there was no rush to vote on the issue before the meeting was ready to do so.
However, there is no one right way to obtain a group conscience, other than to be guided by MA’s traditions and principles. MA meetings/groups are autonomous, and so are free to develop their own ways of obtaining a group conscience. MA World Services does not govern, and merely exists as a resource. In their autonomy, MA’s meetings/groups have developed a wide variety of unique ways of holding business meetings, voting, discussing proposed motions, and reaching a group conscience.
How do we gather a group conscience for this vote?
To answer this question we look for guidance from the Fourth Tradition. (Life with Hope 3rd edt. pg 71-72)
“Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or MA as a whole.”
Tradition Four is a specific application of the general principles outlined in Traditions One and Two. Tradition Four states that every group has the right of self- government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases, except where MA as a whole is affected. This means that MA has the courage and faith to allow each group to make its own decisions. In essence, each group is its own individual entity, relying on the group conscience as guided by a loving God to direct its actions.
Groups have a right to make their own mistakes. There are only two boundaries that any group must not cross: 1) A group must not do anything that would affect other groups or MA as a whole; and 2) A group cannot affiliate itself with anything or anybody else. In all other respects the groups have complete autonomy.
The group may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes. No district service committee should challenge this privilege even though a group may act in complete opposition to the district’s desires. In other words, every group has the right to set its own course.
Healthy trial and error, guided by spiritual principles, often results in a newer and better way to do things. In many cases, allowing groups liberty and freedom helps keep MA from being stuck in the rut of practices and customs that have become obsolete.
A group should consult with other groups, the district service committee, or World Services if there is any question that their actions may affect another group or MA as a whole. Each group should take special care that its actions fall within the bounds of our traditions, and that they do not dictate or force anything upon other groups. The purpose of autonomy is to give each group the freedom to establish an atmosphere of recovery that will best serve its members, and to fulfill the primary purpose stated in Tradition Five.
“A group should consult with other groups, the district service committee, or World Services if there is any question that their actions may affect another group or MA as a whole.” – Fourth Tradition
If your group/meeting would like suggestions for how to gather a group conscience you may choose to seek support from members with long-time sobriety, a district, or MA World Services.
This is a general outline for calling a business meeting to gather the group conscience:
Selecting a Chairperson:
Any member of the group/meeting can request to hold a business meeting. The group/meeting may want to determine a designated member to facilitate this vote, that could be the Group Service Representative, Chairperson, Secretary, or any member of the group/meeting.
For the purpose of this vote, the group/meeting may have selected a trusted servant to facilitate the voting process; this person is responsible for managing the conversation and/or debate in a fair, organized, orderly manner. They will also be responsible for submitting the vote of the meeting/group’s conscience to MA World Services electronically using the meeting’s unique ID voting. “Our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern.” Please ensure that the person responsible for facilitating the voting process will accurately record the group/meetings’ vote with MA World Services.
Schedule and provide notice of the business meeting to discuss and vote on the motion:
Schedule the business meeting in advance, giving notice at least 2 weeks prior. The business meeting should take place when the majority of the group/meeting’s members can attend to discuss the proposed changes, and potentially vote if a group conscience is reached during the meeting. The business meeting may be held before, after, or at a separate time from the regular meeting.
Whomever has been designated by the group/meeting to facilitate this vote will give notice of the business meeting to vote on this motion. When providing notice of the business meeting, inform the members of the business meeting’s subject including all of the relevant materials provided. This will allow members sufficient time to review the motion language and accompanying materials prior to attending the business meeting.
The link Marijuana-Anonymous.org/Vote and this page of frequently asked questions Marijuana-Anonymous.org/Vote/FAQ should be distributed as soon as possible. The length of the business meeting may be reduced by allowing everyone an opportunity to review and consider the proposed changes beforehand.
Holding the business meeting
Ideally the meeting begins with someone reading the motion language and proposed changes out loud. For meetings held over the phone or chat, please provide the link Marijuana-Anonymous.org/Vote. For in-person meetings consider having printed copies of the voting material available for members to read along.
Discussion
The member facilitating the business meeting will be responsible for calling on any members who wish to share their thoughts on the motion. During discussion, it is important that all voices are heard, and that respect is maintained, regardless of the member’s outlook, and that no one talks out of turn.
Should discussion become overly passionate, it is important to remember why the group/meeting is having the discussion that has some members so passionate in the first place – to determine how best to fufill MA’s primary purpose and carry the message to the addict who is still suffering! This is also where it’s important to try and hear any minority views, not just the loudest voices, and to have the willingness and open mind to listen to all viewpoints.
During the annual MA World Services business Conference, if tensions are rising any member can raise both hands to stop the meeting and say the “Serenity Prayer.” When anyone sees hands raised, they raise theirs, until everyone in the room has raised their hands. At this point, discussion pauses and whomever initiated raising hands leads the group in the “Serenity Prayer,” usually the “We” version. Often, this helps calm the tension and pause to remember why we are all so passionate about the discussion.
“Pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action.” – AA Big Book pg 87
We can all benefit from this quote – particularly during potentially heated discussions. If members are feeling agitated or doubtful as a group during these discussions, take a pause to seek guidance for the next indicated right thought or action.
There is no need to rush in reaching a group conscience, groups/meetings have until May 9, 2023 to return their votes. If a group conscience cannot be reached in one business meeting, it can be tabled, to be continued during another business meeting when everyone is feeling rested and refreshed physically and spiritually to continue the discussion in a productive manner.
Ending Discussion
If everyone in a meeting seems to be in agreement, or if the group/meeting is smaller, meeting discussion may conclude quickly, needing only one business meeting. Moving to a vote could be an easy transition.
If discussion has become over-extended, occurring over multiple business meetings, the group conscience seems divided, there may be too many opposing opinions, or discussion is going in circles, it may be the time to vote on whether or not to end discussion. If the vote to end discussion does not pass, then discussion resumes as it was before until the group conscience decides to vote.
It is possible that those with a minority opinion will never sway their thoughts, or come to an understanding with the rest of the group’s opinions. We always hope that everyone can agree within the group conscience but that may not be possible. Please see the following question about what percentage of a meeting’s group conscience votes that must be in favor of the proposed change to pass the motion.
Voting on the Motion
Voting YES, means that you agree with the proposed changes.
Voting NO, means you do not agree with the proposed changes.
When the meeting has decided it is time to vote on the proposed changes, voting can also occur in a variety of ways:
- For discrete voting, you may consider a secret paper ballot for in person meetings. Or, for discrete voting in virtual meetings, you can consider sending a direct message in the chat to the trusted servant
- Or perhaps vote by raising hands (either using virtual or “physical hands”) or, audibly stating yes or no.
- Meetings are autonomous and so it’s entirely up to the meeting how voting will occur, and what percentage of the meeting/group must be in favor of a proposed change/motion in order for it to pass/take effect.
All of the above are simply suggestions for holding a business meeting. Autonomous groups/meetings are free to decide whether or not there are any such requirements for the group/meeting, including how to obtain a group conscience for the fellowship-wide vote on the proposed changes.
How many members of a meeting must be present to vote in order to obtain a group conscience for purposes of this motion?
Autonomous groups/meetings are free to decide whether or not there are any such requirements for the group/meeting, including how to obtain a group conscience for the fellowship-wide vote on the proposed changes.
“Every group has the right of self-government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases . . [and] may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes.” -Tradition Four, Life with Hope 3rd edition pg 71-72
Some groups/meetings may have existing requirements about how many members must be present at a business meeting to vote on a motion in order to obtain a group conscience (sometimes called a “quorum”) but other groups/meetings may not have any such requirements at all. It is entirely up to your meeting whether or not a minimum number of members must be present at a business meeting to vote on this or any other motion.
There are no requirements from MA World Services regarding how many members must participate in a group/meeting vote in order to obtain a “valid” group conscience. MA World Services has no rules or requirements about how to obtain a group conscience, MA World Services only exists as a resource, and does not govern.
Is there a certain percentage of a meeting’s group conscience votes that must be in favor of the proposed change, such as, a simple majority, two-thirds (2/3), or three-fourths (3/4), in order for it to pass?
“Every group has the right of self-government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases . . [and] may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes.” -Tradition Four, Life with Hope 3rd edt. pg 71-72
MA World Services has no rules or requirements about how to obtain a group conscience, and does not govern. This includes determining the percentage of votes needed to pass a motion. If a meeting has an established way of obtaining its group conscience, including eligibility requirements, the group/meeting may continue to use any process that functions for the group conscience.
Autonomous meetings are free to decide whether or not there are any such requirements for the group/meeting, including how to obtain a group conscience for the fellowship-wide vote on the proposed changes. Some groups/meetings choose to pass a vote with 2/3 of the members in agreement, others use 3/4 and others use a simple majority.
Group Conscience Examples
Group conscience of simple majority or 51%:
(# of members voting) x 0.51 = # of votes to pass the motion.
Example: 10 members x 0.51 = 5.1 members
- We normally round up to the next whole number with any decimal.
- 6 members would have to vote yes to pass the motion.
- If 5 or more members vote No, then the motion fails.
Group conscience of ⅔ or 66%:
(# of members voting) x 0.66 = # of votes to pass the motion.
Example: 10 members x 0.66 = 6.6 members
- We normally round up to the next whole number with any decimal.
- 7 members would have to vote yes to pass the motion.
- If 4 or more members vote No, then the motion fails.
Group conscience of ¾ of 75%:
(# of members voting) x 0.75 = # of votes to pass the motion.
Example: 10 members x 0.75 = 7.5 members
- We normally round up to the next whole number with any decimal.
- 8 members would have to vote yes to pass the motion.
- If 3 or more members vote No, then the motion fails.
Groups/Meetings are free to determine what percentage of votes are required for this motion and all others, including Conference motions, and other group/meeting business.
What if we cannot come to a group conscience in one discussion session meeting?
The traditions caution against hasty decision making – a group conscience is obtained with patience. So more than one business meeting may be needed in order to hear all viewpoints and reach an informed decision. MA’s founders were wise enough to provide meetings with 6 months to discuss, reach an informed group conscience, and return their vote on matters of importance such as proposed changes to the MA Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, so that decision making would not need to be rushed.
If there is no sense that a collective view has been reached by the group, or that everyone with an opinion (especially minority opinions) has been able to speak about their viewpoint, the issue can be dealt with over the course of multiple business meetings to allow all voices to be heard, and all the relevant information to be reviewed before the meeting votes. In obtaining a group conscience, members should remain wary of dominant opinions and be reminded by MA traditions to place principles before personalities.
What about the minority opinion?
When having conversations about controversial, sensitive and/or highly contested issues, an informed group conscience is often best reached by working slowly, rather than rushing to reach a hasty decision, and when the meeting avoids reaching a final decision until all opinions have been heard and a clear sense of the meeting’s collective opinion emerges. The result rests on more than a “yes” or “no” count—precisely because it is the spiritual expression of the group conscience.
Put another way, a group conscience is more than just a yes or no vote. It involves willingness, an open-mind, and patience to ensure that all viewpoints in the room are heard – especially minority views. We are always cautioned by MA traditions to place principles before personalities to ensure that the issues at hand remain the focus, and that the minority viewpoint can be heard and considered when seeking a group conscience – not just the loudest voice in the room.
We ask that you remember Tradition Five, “each group has but one primary purpose, to carry its message to the marijuana addict who still suffers.” The newcomer is often the most important person in the room.